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Barnsley dog owners - stay together forever for free!

Barnsley Council has teamed up with Dogs Trust to offer a free microchipping session for dogs at Elsecar Park, Armroyd Lane, on Monday, 8 October, 11am until 3pm.

The team will also offer a free basic health check including nail clipping, a check your chip service and any other advice needed.

A dog must be microchipped by law and owners who do not comply could face fines of up to £500.

Dogs will be treated on a first come first served basis with the last dog seen at 3pm.

Cllr Jim Andrews, Cabinet Spokesperson for Public Health, said: “Not only is having your dog microchipped now a legal requirement, it is one of the best ways to increase a lost dog’s chance of getting back home should they go missing. Whilst collar and identity tags are also a legal requirement, and a great way of quickly identifying a dog’s owner, they can fall off or be removed. Should this happen, microchipping offers a permanent back-up in identifying a missing dog and ensuring their safe return.”

Apart from being a legal requirement, the benefits of microchipping include:

Acting as a deterrent to dog theft.

Allows for a rapid return and helps local authorities educate owners on the dangers of straying and reinforce the responsibilities of the owners.

The Dogs Trust has specified that all dogs at the event must be wearing a collar and lead and have a handler present who is aged 18 or over. All puppies aged up to six months old must be fully vaccinated and must be carried.